Albert b



A. D. PENTZ, In.

ART OF BESTORING TEETH.

APPUCATION FILED MAR. 21. 1911'.

1,321, 1 24. V Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

ALBERT n. PENTZ, .13., or new YORK, N. Y.

ART OF RESTORING TEETH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed March 27, 1917. Serial No. 157,598.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. Pnn'tr'z, J in, a citizen of the United States, residin at New York, county of Richmond, and tate of New'York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Restoring Teeth, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the art of restoring teeth, and has for its chief ob ect to provide simple, convenient, painless and positive means and method by which in most if not all cases a tooth can be covered, wholly or partially as may be necessary or desirable un er the circumstances, with a metal casing or corset, so to speak, or with a cap or crown, without sacrificing any of the enamel or other part of the tooth structure. Another object is to take advantage of the natural shape of the tooth to aid in holding the crown in place.

A metal casing or crown applied by my method can be used for the restoration of a single tooth, or as a means of support or attachment for a bridge, or for any other purpose for which crowns have been used in the past. Hence I do not desire to limit the method to any articular use.

The method will e readily understood by describing, somewhat in detail, its application in one or two comparatively s1mple cases. For this purpose reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which I illustrate several stages of the method as ap lied in the simple cases referred to.

n the drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates a tooth for example, a lower canine), which is to be provided with a metal casing, say for the purpose of serving as an anchorage or abutment for a bridge.

Fig. 2 is a view, in perspective, of the metal corset band ready to be placed upon a tooth of natural shape.

Fig. 3 shows the tooth with the corset applied and secured in position. This view also shows a cap on the cusp of the tooth, such cap being in many cases unnecessary, though it can be provided in all cases, if desired.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5-is a perspective view of a split band or corset like that shown in Fig. 2, but with dilferent means for securing its ends together. 7

Fig. 6 illustrates a tooth incased in the corset-band shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on line aa of Fig. 5, but on a much larger scale and with the thickness of the metal greatly exaggerated.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section showing the band or corset extendin part way instead of completely around t e tooth.

In applying my method to the tooth, 10, the first step is to see that the entire tooth is clean and to clean and fill any cavities or other decayed portions that may be found, as for example the cavity shown at 11. The usual mode of the tooth is now made, and with this the surgeon prepares the gold corset or casing 12, Fig. 2. In the case illustrated the corset is essentially a split ring or band, provided with suitable interlocking means for looking or otherwise securing its ends together after it is fitted to the tooth. Of the various means that I know of for this purpose the method that I consider the best and most convenient is to provide each end of the band with dove-tail tabs or projections 13.

The band or corset having been prepared, the inside of the latter, or the outside of the tooth, as may be most suitable or convenient, is coated with cement, and the band is then shoved endwise upon the tooth. In this operation the band expands as it goes over the larger diameter of the tooth and then contracts. When it reaches its final position the natural resiliency of the metal may be suflicient (especially if stifl' gold is used) to bring the end-edges into close contact, as in Fig. 3. If not, they can be brought snugly together by a wire or other ligature and so held until the'oement underneath has set or hardened sufiiciently.

It will be observed that the dovetail projections or tabs on each edge lie under the opposite end of the band. Hence each tab is embedded in the cement between the band or corset and the underlying tooth. The result is that the band cannot expand circumferentially and so become loose on the tooth, nor can the ends of the band move longitudinally of the tooth. At the same time the ends cannot spring out radially (even if they had any tendency to do so) since the tab or tabs on each end are held down by the other end. Also, the natural bulge of the tooth to which the corset is fitted effectually prevents longitudinal movement of the latter. The corset is thus held securely in place.

In all cases it is desirable that the outer and inner circumferential edges of the corset fit the tooth closely enough to make a water-tight joint, and in preparing the corset the surgeon should keep this desideratuni in mind. If the cusp-surface or outer end of the tooth is to be covered also (for example in the manner described below) the closeness of fit of the band or corset at its outer edge is perhaps not so important, though good workmanshi demands that every precaution be taken ere also.

In many cases, especially in bridge work, the corset or band is all that is needed, but if necessary or desirable the cusp-surface or outer end of the tooth can be covered with a cap. The corset being long enough to reach from the gum to or slightly beyond the largest diameter of the tooth the cap is simply made deep enough to fit over the outer edge of the corset, as for example like the cap 15, Fig. 3. If the edge of the cap does not have to pass beyond, or much beyond, the point of largest diameter the cap does not need to be split at any point. Needless to say, the joint between the corset and the edge of the cap should be water-tight. The usual excess of cement should be used in the 'lhe joint between the two ends of the corset or band can be at any desired point in the circumference of the tooth. In the case of front teeth the joint can be at the back or side of the tooth so that neglible imperfections at the two end edges will not be visible, but the front position is more convenient for working, and in many in-- stances the joint can be so perfectly made as to be practically if not wholly invisible. Moreover, if the joint is on the front surface of the tooth the work can be seen so much better that the operator is less liable to overlook any unclosed crevices or other imperfections that might later cause trouble.

Another good way of securing the two ends of the corset 12 together is illustrated in Figs. 5. 6, and 6. In this case the interlocking tabs 13 need not be of the dovetail form. The ends of the band are provided with lugs 13 (preferably vertical or lengthwise of the band, as shown) and with cooperating sockets 13 to receive the lugs, the lugs and seek ets being struck up from the sheet metal, as will be readily understood. After the band is applied to the tooth the ends are drawn together until the lugs sap into the sockets,

the tab or tabs on each end underlying the opposite end, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, so as to be embedded in the cement. Preferably the sockets are covered with a layer of gold, as 13, Fig. 6, to smooth them off, as it were, thus eliminating abrupt projections, protecting the sockets from wear, and strengthening the metal in which the sockets are formed.

It is not necessary that the corset extend completely around the tooth. In Fig. 7 I have shown a corset 19 covering the back of the tooth (an upper incisor) and extending on each side to the front ast the horizontal diameter of the tooth. I the corset 19 is to serve as an anchorage for a bridge the lat ter should be attached to both sides so as to have no tendency to exert a radially outward pull on either side. In addition the gold used should be stiff enou h to offer as much resistance as possible to %ending if a stress of the kind mentioned should occur. To make the corset even more secure, its front edges 20 can be fastened to the tooth by pins or rivets 21. Evidently the scheme illustrated is less of a disfigurement in the mouth than to have the corset encircle the tooth completely and hence cover the front of the tooth. In a case like that shown in Fig. 7 the two parts preferably are put on the tooth one after the other and the contiguous or overlapping ends then fastened by the method already described.

By the term bulge of the tooth as used herein I mean any part of the tooth wide enough or thick enough to cause more or less expansion or spreading of the corset or band when it is pushed onto the tooth from the outer end or cusp.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details herein spe- ('ifically described, but can be practised in other ways without departure from its spirit.

I claim:

1. The method of tooth-restoration comprising preparing a split band or corset of metal having tabs or projections on its ends and fitting more or less of the tooth between the gum and the cusp-surface, including at least a portion of the tooth between the gum and the bulge of the tooth, covering the inner surface of the band or corset with a suitable cement, placing the band or corset upon the tooth with the projections on each end underlying the opposite end portion whereby the said projections are held against outward radial displacement and are embedded in the underlying cement, and allowing the cement to harden so as to hold the said projections against circumferential and longitudinal displacement.

2. As a new appliance for tooth-restoration, a split band or corset of metal shaped t fit and at least partially encircle a'portion of the tooth between the gum and the cement inside the band or corset when the bulge of the tooth, and having tabs or pro latter is applied to the tooth. 10 jections on its abutting edges,the projection 3. As a new: up liance for tooth-restoor rejections on each of said edges exion he evwe in 2, in

5 ten ing underneath the opposite end-porwhich the tabs or pro1ect1ons are of dove tion whereby to prevent radial displaeetail form. ment of said edges and permit the ro'ee- In testimony whereof I afiix nlily eture. 15 tions on both sald edges to be em d in ALBERT D. P NT Jn.

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